With the release of wide receiver Braylon Edwards today, the 49ers are in the market for a wideout, which isn’t uncharted territory this season.

On Oct. 11, two days after Joshua Morgan suffered a season-ending broken leg, the 49ers had a workout for Morgan’s roster spot that included Brett Swain, Hastings, Chambers, Finneran and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was signed by the Raiders on Nov. 1.

After the 49ers signed Swain, Jim Harbaugh said he was impressed by the wideouts at the workout.

“We had some guys here, some really top-level guys, and we just let them compete for the spot,” Harbaugh said. “Knew we had one spot and it could have been possibly two, but one for sure. We let the guys go out there and compete for it. There were some really good guys here. Their workout was outstanding. You really like the whole group; it was like ‘That’s a heck of a group.’ Thought Brett stood out and was the best guy.”

If that recent history is any guide, Hastings, Finneran and Chambers are logical candidates to fill Edwards’ spot.

Hastings (6-0, 185), a rookie, is a member of the Niners’ practice squad. He had 87 catches for 1,546 yards as a senior at Division II Washburn University last year.

Finneran, 35, and Chambers, 33, are NFL veterans who last played in the league in 2010. Finneran had 19 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns with the Falcons last year. Chambers had 22 catches for 213 yards and a touchdown with the Chiefs in 2010.

The wideouts competed in the 40-yard dash at that workout in October. Harbaugh said Hastings finished first and Swain was second.